School nets £126,000 to extend sports facilities

The bid – which was put together by the Anthony Gell Foundation Trustees, the school, Derbyshire Dales District Council and local sports clubs – will further extend the popular facilities, which are currently used to their full capacity.

Alongside £275,000 raised through hiring the school’s current facilities, the money will be used to: resurface the existing pitch; build a new floodlit pitch; build four new tennis courts; and create extra car parking spaces.

David Baker, head teacher at Anthony Gell, said he was “absolutely delighted” with the news.

“This is a fantastic example of various groups working together to achieve something really great for the whole community,” he said.

“As a Specialist Sports College we have worked hard to develop sport in the school and in the community and the fact that our current facilities are full to capacity and that Sport England have given us the money to have a third artificial pitch on the site is testament to the hard work and determination of many people over many years,” he added.